Monday 30 June 2014

RE: [cobirds] Mt. Plovers in South Park (1992-2014), Park County

All,

 

If you want to find out the real Mountain Plover population in South Park you should consider reading

“The High-elevation Population of Mountain Plovers in Colorado” by Mike Wunder, Fritz Knopf (Dr. Plover), and Chris Pague in The Condor, the journal of the Cooper Ornithological Society.  Mike, working for Natural Heritage Foundation, estimated a population of 2310 adult Mountain Plovers in South Park … “We conclude that South Park represents a contemporarily large concentration of breeding Mountain Plovers.”  The Condor 105:654-662. (2003). The authors estimated 29,176 hectares of occupied habitat during the study period.

 

Bill Maynard

Colorado Springs, CO

From: cobirds@googlegroups.com [mailto:cobirds@googlegroups.com]
Sent: Monday, June 30, 2014 3:40 PM
To: cobirds@googlegroups.com
Subject: [cobirds] Mt. Plovers in South Park (1992-2014), Park County

 

COBIRDS,

     A friend of mine asked me about Mt. Plover in South Park so I decided to see what records I could dig up.  The results are listed below.
     These records and reports come from COBIRDS, eBird, Colorado BirdsColorado Breeding Bird Atlas I and II, and The Guide to Colorado Birds and are listed in chronological order.  I sent out a RFI to COBIRDs and only received ONE response.  There aren't too many reports of plover and they are spread "all over" the Park.  Most people seem to run into them just by chance -- a few know what they are looking for and go find them.
     To quote Harold Holt, "Of Colorado's four major parks, this [South Park] is the most impressive, covering over 500 square miles at an average elevation of just over 9,000 feet."
 

     #1)  Colorado Birds: A Reference to Their Distribution and Habitat
               By Robert Andrews and Robert Righter
               Pub. by the Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado, 1992.
               On page 112 Bob and Bob list the Mt. Plover in South Park (Park County) as "rare" in summer and in migration.

     #2)  Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas
                Edited by Hugh E. Kingery
                Published by the Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership and the Colorado Division of                     Wildlife, Denver, CO, 1998.

               Atlas One (1987 - 1992) obviously covered South Park and the Mt. Plover breeding there.  In their article on Mt. Plover, Kuenning and Kingery state that "South Park also has a significant number [of Mt. Plover], 
in the area from Fairplay south to the Park County line."  In Atlas One eight blocks recorded Possible nesting, one block recorded Probable nesting, and 7 blocks had Confirmed nesting!  These results seemed to cover the WHOLE Park pretty thoroughly.  
               The results reported for Atlas One included work by Mike Wunder, currently of the University of Colorado Denver, who had a Mt. Plover research project during some of those years.  His team's results were included in the Atlas One results.
               Atlas Two (2007-2012) research documented zero blocks recording Possible nesting, one block recording Probable nesting, and 4 blocks had Confirmed nesting!
(
http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/CO/Main)
               Based partially on the Atlas work, some speculate that there has been a decline in the population of Mt. Plover in South Park as well as in other parts of the state.

     #3)  The Guide to Colorado Birds
               By Mary Taylor Gray
               Westcliffe Publishers, Englewood, Colorado, 1989
               In The Guide... Mary Taylor Gray states, "Biologists estimate as many as 900 [Mt.] Plovers may inhabit South Park."

     #4) The Nature Conservancy: High Creek Fen Preserve (Park County) off Hwy. 285 north of Antero (Don't know what access is like); July 12, 1998 -- 3 Mt. Plover; adult and 2 chicks.  Reported by Randall Siebert on eBird.
 
     #5)  Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 8, 2003 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Glenn Walbek on eBird.

     #6)  Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); May 28, 2003 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Glenn Walbek on eBird.

     #7)  Chuck Hundertmark observed Mt. Plover in South Park while working on the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II; July 18, 2009 -- 2 Mt. Plover.  These birds were exhibiting distracting behavior.  The sighting was made east of Reinecker Ridge on the Bar D Ranch road; travel and search Bar D Ranch Road.  This road is approx. one mile southwest of the Como/Boreas Pass Road on Hwy. 285; turn southeast onto 
Bar D.

     #8)  Indian Mountain Devo (development?)(Park County); Sept. 1, 2009 -- 7 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Peter Burke on eBird (traveling report - 5 miles, 4 hours).  The site recorded on eBird is northeast of Observatory Rock on the northeast side of Tarryall Road at 9,200 ft.; this is approx. 4 miles southeast of jct. of Packer Lane and Tarryall Road.  From Tarryall Road drive up the road just past Graveyard Gulch Street (Bordenville Cemetery) presumably into Indian Mountain Devo.

     #9)  Along Hwy. 285  approx. one mile south of the top of Red Hill Pass (on way into Fairplay)(Park County); April 7, 2013 -- 3 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Peter Burke on eBird.

     #10)  Antero Reservoir (Park County); June 7, 2013 -- 2 Mt. Plover.  Reported by David Elwonger on eBird.

     #11)  Northeast of Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 17, 2013 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by John Drummond on eBird.  Directions: Enter South Park from east (Wilkerson Pass) on Hwy. 24.  Turn south on second major road; San Juan Street or County Road 23.  Turn southwest on Mineral Springs Road then south on Chase Gulch Road (dead end).  Scan the grasslands...

     #12)  Northeast of Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 23, 2013 -- 3 Mt. Plover; adult and 2 chicks.  Reported by Aaron Driscoll on COBIRDS.  Aaron re-found the site reported by John Drummond on eBird on the 17th of June 2013 (follow same directions).

     #13)  Lastly, in May and June 2014 David Suddjian reports sightings in FIVE locations in South Park (all in Park County).  All are reported on eBird.  On May 2 he observed two Mt. Plover 1 mile east of Hwy. 285 on Park County Road 56 (Lost Park Rd.).  Also on May 2 he observed three Mt. Plover 3.5 miles west of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 24.  On May 19 he observed three Mt. Plover 5 miles south of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 53.  Also on May 19 he observed two Mt. Plover 13.7 miles south of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 53 (108/Pawnee Tr.).  On June 11 he observed three 
Mt. Plover in flight 1 mile southeast of Hwy. 285 on Park County Road 15 (Elkhorn Rd.). 

    
My conclusion is that there is a small population of Mt. Plover widely scattered over much of South Park in appropriate habitat.  Finding them is another matter, except for Peter and David!  Way to go Peter and David!

     Thanks very much to Chuck Hundertmark his invaluable counsel on this little project!  As he notes, "It would be productive to have a detailed census of the South Park MOUP population." 

Good Birding, Chris

Mr. Chris A. Blakeslee
Centennial, Colorado
CorvidColo@aol.com

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[cobirds] Mt. Plovers in South Park (1992-2014), Park County

COBIRDS,

     A friend of mine asked me about Mt. Plover in South Park so I decided to see what records I could dig up.  The results are listed below.
     These records and reports come from COBIRDS, eBird, 
Colorado BirdsColorado Breeding Bird Atlas I and II, and The Guide to Colorado Birds and are listed in chronological order.  I sent out a RFI to COBIRDs and only received ONE response.  There aren't too many reports of plover and they are spread "all over" the Park.  Most people seem to run into them just by chance -- a few know what they are looking for and go find them.
     To quote Harold Holt, "Of Colorado's four major parks, this [South Park] is the most impressive, covering over 500 square miles at an average elevation of just over 9,000 feet."
 

     #1)  
Colorado Birds: A Reference to Their Distribution and Habitat
               By Robert Andrews and Robert Righter
               Pub. by the Denver Museum of Natural History, Denver, Colorado, 1992.
               On page 112 Bob and Bob list the Mt. Plover in South Park (Park County) as "rare" in summer and in migration.

     #2)  
Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas
                Edited by Hugh E. Kingery
                Published by the Colorado Bird Atlas Partnership and the Colorado Division of                     Wildlife, Denver, CO, 1998.

               Atlas One (1987 - 1992) obviously covered South Park and the Mt. Plover breeding there.  In their article on Mt. Plover, Kuenning and Kingery state that "South Park also has a significant number [of Mt. Plover], 
in the area from Fairplay south to the Park County line."  In Atlas One eight blocks recorded Possible nesting, one block recorded Probable nesting, and 7 blocks had Confirmed nesting!  These results seemed to cover the WHOLE Park pretty thoroughly.  
               The results reported for Atlas One included work by Mike Wunder, currently of the University of Colorado Denver, who had a Mt. Plover research project during some of those years.  His team's results were included in the Atlas One results.
               Atlas Two (2007-2012) research documented zero blocks recording Possible nesting, one block recording Probable nesting, and 4 blocks had Confirmed nesting!
(
http://bird.atlasing.org/Atlas/CO/Main)
               Based partially on the Atlas work, some speculate that there has been a decline in the population of Mt. Plover in South Park as well as in other parts of the state.

     #3)  
The Guide to Colorado Birds
               By Mary Taylor Gray
               Westcliffe Publishers, Englewood, Colorado, 1989
               In
The Guide... Mary Taylor Gray states, "Biologists estimate as many as 900 [Mt.] Plovers may inhabit South Park."

     #4) The Nature Conservancy: High Creek Fen Preserve (Park County) off Hwy. 285 north of Antero (Don't know what access is like); July 12, 1998 -- 3 Mt. Plover; adult and 2 chicks.  Reported by Randall Siebert on eBird.
 
     #5)  Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 8, 2003 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Glenn Walbek on eBird.

     #6)  Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); May 28, 2003 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Glenn Walbek on eBird.

     #7)  Chuck Hundertmark observed Mt. Plover in South Park while working on the Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas II; July 18, 2009 -- 2 Mt. Plover.  These birds were exhibiting distracting behavior.  The sighting was made east of Reinecker Ridge on the Bar D Ranch road; travel and search Bar D Ranch Road.  This road is approx. one mile southwest of the Como/Boreas Pass Road on Hwy. 285; turn southeast onto 
Bar D.

     #8)  Indian Mountain Devo (development?)(Park County); Sept. 1, 2009 -- 7 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Peter Burke on eBird (traveling report - 5 miles, 4 hours).  The site recorded on eBird is northeast of Observatory Rock on the northeast side of Tarryall Road at 9,200 ft.; this is approx. 4 miles southeast of jct. of Packer Lane and Tarryall Road.  From Tarryall Road drive up the road just past Graveyard Gulch Street (Bordenville Cemetery) presumably into Indian Mountain Devo.

     #9)  Along Hwy. 285  approx. one mile south of the top of Red Hill Pass (on way into Fairplay)(Park County); April 7, 2013 -- 3 Mt. Plover.  Reported by Peter Burke on eBird.

     #10)  Antero Reservoir (Park County); June 7, 2013 -- 2 Mt. Plover.  Reported by David Elwonger on eBird.

     #11)  Northeast of Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 17, 2013 -- 1 Mt. Plover.  Reported by John Drummond on eBird.  Directions: Enter South Park from east (Wilkerson Pass) on Hwy. 24.  Turn south on second major road; San Juan Street or County Road 23.  Turn southwest on Mineral Springs Road then south on Chase Gulch Road (dead end).  Scan the grasslands...

     #12)  Northeast of Spinney Mountain Reservoir (Park County); June 23, 2013 -- 3 Mt. Plover; adult and 2 chicks.  Reported by Aaron Driscoll on COBIRDS.  Aaron re-found the site reported by John Drummond on eBird on the 17th of June 2013 (follow same directions).

     #13)  Lastly, in May and June 2014 David Suddjian reports sightings in FIVE locations in South Park (all in Park County).  All are reported on eBird.  On May 2 he observed two Mt. Plover 1 mile east of Hwy. 285 on Park County Road 56 (Lost Park Rd.).  Also on May 2 he observed three Mt. Plover 3.5 miles west of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 24.  On May 19 he observed three Mt. Plover 5 miles south of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 53.  Also on May 19 he observed two Mt. Plover 13.7 miles south of Hwy. 9 on Park County Road 53 (108/Pawnee Tr.).  On June 11 he observed three 
Mt. Plover in flight 1 mile southeast of Hwy. 285 on Park County Road 15 (Elkhorn Rd.). 

    
My conclusion is that there is a small population of Mt. Plover widely scattered over much of South Park in appropriate habitat.  Finding them is another matter, except for Peter and David!  Way to go Peter and David!

     Thanks very much to Chuck Hundertmark his invaluable counsel on this little project!  As he notes, "It would be productive to have a detailed census of the South Park MOUP population." 

Good Birding, Chris

Mr. Chris A. Blakeslee
Centennial, Colorado
CorvidColo@aol.com

[cobirds] Congrats, Brenda Linfield, record first!

Big congrats to recently retired CFO Board member and accomplished webmaster, Brenda Linfield. On June 20, 2014 she became the first woman to join the very special Fourteener-400 Club. http://www.fourteeners400.com/
Also kudos to her husband Roger who joined this Olympian group October 2, 2012.
Who will be the second woman to join? Lynne Miller knocked off all the fourteeners years ago and will hopefully reach 400 bird species soon.
I am one Colorado birder who really admires and "looks up" to this group of stalwarts. Way to go all eight of you!

Tom Wilberding
Boulder, CO

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[cobirds] Eastern Wood-peewee continues Larimer County

The Eastern Wood-peewee continues along the Poudre River Trail and has moved back to where it was originally found just north of the junction of the Spring Creek and Poudre River Trails.

The bird wasn't particularly vocal, but when it did call it made an unmistakable Eastern Wood-peewee high call. Visuals were tough to get but with patience the bird did come into clear areas of the canopy a couple times over a 20-30 min period.

Regards,

Mark Minner-Lee
Superior, CO



Sent from my iPhone

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[cobirds] Jackson County Red-necked Grebes, godwits, cranes and colonial water birds

This weekend Paul Slingsby and I led a group of RMBO ColonyWatch volunteers on a survey of North Park water bird colonies at multiple ponds/locations. Here are the highlights:

June 28:
Walden Reservoir. Water level was high.

Great Egret 2
Eared Grebe 413 birds. Some nests in cattails, but little open water nesting yet
Western Grebe 75
Double-crested Cormorant 27 adults and at least 13 young
American White Pelican 40 (few if any nesting here this year)
Snowy Egret - as many as 3-5 nesting including young in one nest
Black-crowned Night Heron - several on nests
White-faced Ibis - 101 on evening flight line count of birds heading to nesting colony or evening roost
California Gull 318 including young (count probably low)
Forster's Terns 33 at colony

CR 18 between Tointon Ranch and Delaney Buttes

Sandhill Crane 6 (several dancing)

Lake John

Red-necked Grebe 1 still on nest in sedges. 2nd bird in open water. (If you plan to visit this nest, call or email for directions.)
Clark's Grebe 1 seen this date at Western Grebe colony; 4 seen earlier this month and again on the 29th by Lee and Linda Farrell

June 29
18 Island Reservoir

Eared Grebe 134 (a few building nests and a few on)
Western Willet 8
White-faced Ibis 17
Lesser Yellowlegs 1
Marbled Godwit 4
Prairie Falcon 1
Remains of 2 Green-winged Teal apparently killed, plucked and consumed by a falcon or accipiter leaving behind one leg band.

-- 
Chuck Hundertmark
2546 Lake Meadow Drive
Lafayette, CO 80026
303-604-0531
Cell: 720-771-8659

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[cobirds] Nunn Breeding Bird Survey Route Results/Weld

Lots of new water from recent rainstorms was nice to see and have.  My route runs from Weld CR 122 to Weld CR 84.  Total of 49 species and 7 new species.

Mallard
Swainson's Hawk
Killdeer
American Avocet
Wilson's Phalarope
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian-collared Dove
Mourning Dove
Western Kingbird
Horned Lark
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Lark Bunting
Blue Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
House Finch
House Sparrow
WILLET ***New*** (Weld CR 39/Weld CR 94 pond)
Ring-necked Pheasant
Red-tailed Hawk
Grasshopper Sparrow
Great Horned Owl
Bullock's Oriole
SAY'S PHOEBE ***NEW***
Common Nighthawk
Loggerhead Shrike
Cassin's Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
SAGE THRASHER ***NEW*** (Weld CR 108/37)
Golden Eagle
Chestnut-collared Longspur
McCown's Longspur
COMMON RAVEN ***NEW***
Green-winged Teal
Eastern Kingbird
Brown Thrasher
Yellow-headed Blackbird
American Goldfinch
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT ***NEW***
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE ***NEW***
Great Blue Heron
American Robin
CINNAMON TEAL ***NEW***
Ferruginous Hawk

Thanks Gary Lefko, Nunn
http://coloradobirder.ning.com/
Mobile:  http://coloradobirder.ning.com/m

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[cobirds] Common Loon on Boulder Reservoir

An immarure Common Loon continues to hang out on the north end of the Boulder reservoir. Yesterday, it was swimming near a large group of Canada geese.

Also, there were 7 White Pelicans on the NW shore.

Kat Bradley-Bennett
Longmont

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Monday, June 30

Compiler:  Joe Roller
Date: June 30, 2014
email: rba AT cfobirds.org

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, June 30, updated at 0635, sponsored
by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
The DFO/RMBO answering machine is hors de combat after decades of service. If you have friends who rely on this telephone service, consider arranging to contact them about birding information they are keen on hearing. "Buddy up!"

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species.)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Clear Creek)
Least Tern (Logan)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (*Larimer)  
Red-eyed Vireo (Boulder)
Blue-winged Warbler (Jefferson)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Gunnison) Ovenbird (Jefferson)  
Summer Tanager (Eagle)
White-winged Crossbill (*Park, Boulder)

BOULDER COUNTY:
--A lone White-winged Crossbill was reported by Dowell where the road to Long and Mitchell Lakes branches off the loop road on the west side of Brainard Lake on June 25.
--Ron Bolton reported a Red-eyed Vireo at Golden Ponds in Longmont, on the path between the ponds and the creek, on June 27.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY:
--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Breitsch at Echo Lake on June 24.

EAGLE COUNTY:
--A f Summer Tanager was reported by Dee on North Trail in Vail on June 23.  North Trail is above Buffehr Creek Road.

GUNNISON COUNTY:
--A singing Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported by Beason north of Gateview off of Bue Mesa Cutoff on June 26.  It was at 8000 ft in Douglas Fir habitat.

JEFFERSON COUNTY: 
--A Blue-winged Warbler was discovered by Jones at Welchester Tree Grant Park on May 22, to the delight of  many. It was most recently reported by Leatherman on June 26.

LARIMER COUNTY:
--A singing EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was reported by Mammoser on the Poudre River Bike Trail near Prospect Road on June 26 and reported again on June 27 just south of the Spring Creek footbridge by Komar. It may be easier to see from the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area. Later it was a bit farther north. Keirn et al saw it on June 29.

LOGAN COUNTY:
--Kaempfer reported a Least Tern in the SW corner of Jumbo Reservoir on June 28.. 

MONTROSE COUNTY:
--On June 19, Dexter reported that there was a good show of both male and female LESSER NIGHTHAWKS at the Nucla sewer lagoons west of town.

PARK COUNTY:
-- Hansley found White-winged Crossbills near Boreas Pass on June 26. They were about three miles south of the pass, along Park Co. Rd. 33, aka Rd. 404.  From Denver take Hway 285 SW to the metropolis of Como, then follow signs for Boreas Pass or Rd. 33. The pass can also be reached from the north through Breckinridge.

DFO Field Trips:
Stay tuned for next weekend's DFO trip announcements.


Good Birding,
Joe Roller

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Sunday 29 June 2014

[cobirds] Parking on June 23-24

Here is a belated report from an outing to Park County June 23-24, but for under-reported Park I figure it is better late than never.


June 23


In the morning many stops along County Roads 61, 98, 403, 100, 71, 411 at the southeast corner of Park found Red Crossbills (Type 2) pretty much everywhere there were Ponderosa Pines, including one building a nest along CR 61. Pinyon Jays were also plentiful, but less frequently encountered. An area with sparse pinyon pines along CR 71 had a Gray Flycatcher, a Virginia Warbler, and some Spotted Towhees. Another Spotted at Canyon Drive off CR 411 was on a slope with mountain mahogany and currant, but no oaks (Gambel oak scrub is the primary association for SPTO in Park). CR 71 also had 2 Band-tailed Pigeons, and another Band-tailed was along Canyon Drive off CR 411. An Evening Grosbeak posed nicely along CR 100. I never quite know when or where I might find that grosbeak in the nesting season. In this case I glanced up and it was perched silently right overhead.


I checked Lake George and all the main reservoirs in South Park. Pretty dull. Antero was the only one with any real shorebird habitat, but no shorebirds except avocets (61) and a Killdeer... still early, I know. Antero also had Lesser Scaup (12), Ruddy Duck (146) and Gadwall (42), in addition to the South Park early summer standard Canada Goose, Mallard, and Common Merganser. Spinney was the least interesting of all. Eleven Mile had the basic few waterfowl spp. The nesting island off Witchers Cove had 700+ California Gulls with medium to small young in many nests, and large young in Double-crested Cormorant nests. A Clark's Grebe was among many Westerns. Lake George had little of interest except a male Wood Duck. Buffalo Creek Reservoir had 4 Wilson's Phalaropes, 10 Redhead and 3 Lesser Scaup.


Mid-afternoon up Salt Creek Road (CR 435) west of Antero had Northern Goshawk, American Three-toed Woodpeckers, Pine Grosbeak, and more Red Crossbills (but not Type 2).


Late afternoon up to Weston Pass (CR 22) had White-tailed Ptarmigan, Brown-capped Rosy-Finch, Gray Jay, and American Three-toed Woodpecker. After dark there were two Boreal Owls in the upper watershed of the South Fork of the South Platte.


June 24


Early Morning at Salt Creek (CRs 436 and 436) had a male Rufous Hummingbird (my 1st of the season), Gray Jay, Northern Goshawk, Am. Three-toed Woodpeckers.


Weston Pass Road (CR 22) has some sage scrub habitat of moderate height, which seems to be rather local in Park. Here I found the expected-for-habitat but local-in-Park Sage Thrasher (3) and Brewer's Sparrow (8).  The best area for the sage habitat was 2 to 3 miles from Hwy 285. Another Brewer's Sparrow was along CR 5, but CR 22 has better habitat. Further up the canyon along CR 22, past the entry to Weston Pass Ranch, I heard a singing Veery in expansive willows along the South Fork South Platte. A Gray Catbird was along CR 5.


Salt Creek Road and Weston Pass Road offer a nice assortment of sparrows if one samples the mix of habitats. I encountered 9 species: Chipping, Brewer's, Vesper, Savannah, Lincoln's, Fox, Song, White-crowned, and Dark-eyed Junco.


Lastly, Lesser Scaup were at the pond near Fairplay, ponds near CR 7 x Hwy 285, and Kenosha Pass.


David Suddjian

Littleton, CO

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Fwd: [cobirds] Sat., June 28, E-Bird Field Trip in Boulder County

Please reply directly to Joe. 

I just heard yesterday that the upper parking lots are still closed at Brainard due to snow pack.  Niwot Ridge???

Thanks, Pam

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: joe bartell <lesliezeus1938@yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, Jun 28, 2014 at 4:03 PM
Subject: Re: [cobirds] Sat., June 28, E-Bird Field Trip in Boulder County
To: "piombino.pam@gmail.com" <piombino.pam@gmail.com>


We will be in Denver for a few days and hope to Dusky Grouse. Any suggestions where I might see one in the Boulder area?   Cheers    Joe Bartell


On Friday, June 27, 2014 11:55 AM, Pam Piombino <piombino.pam@gmail.com> wrote:


Another fine field trip brought to you by Boulder County Audubon Society:

Saturday, June 28, 7:30am - early afternoon

"Under-eBirded Boulder County: An Introduction to eBird Field Trip"

What is eBird? How can we use it? How is this "crowd-sourced, citizen science" helping conservation? Join Bryan Guarente on this outing to under e-Birded locations in Boulder County, while learning to enter your sightings into this database. Maybe you'll discover a new location close to home, maybe you'll fall in love with a new patch of land, or maybe we'll find breeding species in an area that wasn't known before. Your new skills can be applied on either a smart phone in the field or from the comfort of your own home after the field trip.

Meet at 7:30 to carpool from the Niwot Park and Ride between the lanes of the Diagonal. eBird was initiated in 2002 by the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology and has now grown into the largest compilation of bird records for abundance and distribution.
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[cobirds] Re: Eastern Wood-Pewee Photographed (Larimer County)


Late this morning David Gillilan, Susan Pellegrini, and I were able to refind the Eastern Wood-Pewee just south of its previous location. It was calling from the top of a snag at the intersection of the Spring Creek and Poudre bicycle trails. We were also able to refind the continuing Green Heron across the street at the Running Deer and Cottonwood Hollow Natural Areas.

Kevin Keirn
Fort Collins, CO

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[cobirds] White-winged Crossbill, Park County

On Thursday the 26th while doing my USGS Breeding Bird Survey on the Boreas Pass Rd., I heard and saw a WW Crossbill. The location was three miles down from the top of the pass heading towards highway 285.

Paula Hansley
Sent from my iPhone

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[cobirds] Re: Some NE Colorado Birds on June 28th

Having good information such as this on playa type areas could be really helpful for the first wave of migrating shorebirds in July.  I saw standing water here and there during my drive home yesterday through Morgan and Weld Counties.  Meanwhile, the water in Jackson Reservoir (Morgan Co.)  was even higher than last time I checked it, and I didn't see any shorebird habitat yet on the lake itself.

The area south of Lower Latham Reservoir down to Beebe Draw (Weld County) does still have water.  South of Road 48, a pair of Marbled Godwits and some Wilson's Phalaropes were the migrants that had joined the resident American Avocets and Black-necked Stilts.

Interesting find with the Least Tern.  They have now been seen in three locations in northeast Colorado this year.

David Dowell
Longmont, CO

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[cobirds] Colorado Rare Bird Alert, June 29

Compiler:  Joe Roller
Date: June 29, 2014
email: rba AT cfobirds.org

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Sunday, June 29, sponsored
by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
Alas, the DFO/RMBO answering machine is defunct after many years of service. If you have friends who rely on this telephone service, consider arranging to contact them about birding information they are keen on hearing. "The buddy system!"

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species.)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Clear Creek)
Red-necked Grebe (Jackson)
Least Tern (*Logan)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Larimer)  
Red-eyed Vireo (Boulder)
Blue-winged Warbler (Jefferson)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (Gunnison) Ovenbird (Jefferson)  
Summer Tanager (Eagle)
White-winged Crossbill (Boulder)

BOULDER COUNTY:
--A lone White-winged Crossbill was reported by Dowell where the road to Long and Mitchell Lakes branches off the loop road on the west side of Brainard Lake on June 25.
--Ron Bolton reported a Red-eyed Vireo at Golden Ponds in Longmont, on the path between the ponds and the creek, on June 27.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY:
--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Breitsch at Echo Lake on June 24.

EAGLE COUNTY:
--A f Summer Tanager was reported by Dee on North Trail in Vail on June 23.  North Trail is above Buffehr Creek Road.

GUNNISON COUNTY:
--A singing Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported by Beason north of Gateview off of Bue Mesa Cutoff on June 26.  It was at 8000 ft in Douglas Fir habitat.

JACKSON COUNTY:
--On June 18, Hundertmark reported that the pair of Red-necked Grebes continues incubating egg(s) on Lake John.  On June 22, Mlodinow reported one Red-necked Grebe on Lake John.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--A Blue-winged Warbler was discovered by Jones at Welchester Tree Grant Park on May 22, to the delight of  many. It was most recently reported by Leatherman on June 26.

LARIMER COUNTY:
--A singing EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was reported by Mammoser on the Poudre River Bike Trail near Prospect Road on June 26 and reported again on June 27 just south of the Spring Creek footbridge by Komar. It may be easier to see from the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area. Later it was a bit farther north.

LOGAN COUNTY:
--Kaempfer reported a Least Tern in the SW corner of Jumbo Reservoir. 

MONTROSE COUNTY:
--On June 19, Dexter reported that there was a good show of both male and female LESSER NIGHTHAWKS at the Nucla sewer lagoons west of town.

DFO Field Trip:

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, June 29 will be to Cherry Creek State Park led by Karen von Saltza (303-941-4881).  Limit 20 participants. Please preregister with Karen, then join her at 0800 on east side of Cherry Creek SP.  Enter at EAST entrance from South Parker Road.  Go past the entrance kiosk and take the first left turn.  Continue on this road past the east boat ramp and turn left to the "East Shades, Picnic Shelters," located on the east shore of the lake.  The trip will start there.  Walking will be less than 2 miles on relatively flat trails.  Lunch is optional. State Parks pass and additional fee required.  Daily fee is $9.  Bring scopes, binocs, water, snacks, hat, and dress for predicted weather. This is a half-day trip.


Good Birding,
Joe Roller

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Saturday 28 June 2014

[cobirds] Some like it hot...Routt County

Barb and I recently enjoyed a few days in the Steamboat Springs area, following tips in the old 1997 ABA book A Birder's Guide to Colorado by Harold R. Holt. (NOTE: ABA has a spiffy, new edition by CFO's own Ted Floyd available here: http://www.buteobooks.com/product/ABAFGCO.html

From Boulder we headed north through Poudre canyon to Gould's Moose Visitor Center where we saw a male Williamson's Sapsucker near the parking lot. We enjoyed the Arapaho NWR driving loop and Walden Reservoir, seeing most of the birds reported recently. In Steamboat we really enjoyed their number one summer tourist attraction, Fish Creek Falls, with the usual birds of that area and a spectacular waterfall. Later we visited Steamboat's Core Bike Trail and Botanic Garden. Harold Hold recommended Strawberry Park Hot Springs north of town for good birding. After a dunking in the very hot pool, the "Goldilocks" pool, then the ice-cold pool, I was too parboiled and wobbly to see many birds, but Barb and I noticed this sign on the way out: "After sunset no one admitted under 18 years of age. Swimsuits optional." Hmmm. Sounds like fun owling!

From Steamboat we headed north to Steamboat Lake State Park, where a ranger mentioned that she hears Western-Screech-Owl from time to time near the campground. We camped at Hahns Peak Lake campground and really froze in our tent despite wearing all the clothing in our car. Missing hot springs! Next day we climbed Hahns Peak, serenaded by a series of Hermit Thrushes to timberline, but no grouse toward the top.

Yesterday we drove up to Crane Park near Wyoming where Sandhill Cranes have nested. We didn't see any but heard a couple landing at Hahns Peak Lake later that night as it grew dark.

Today we headed home through Rocky Mountain National Park. At Parshall we noticed a Lewis's Woodpecker at a feeder at 3092 and 309 streets. At Medicine Bow Curve we hiked out the path northeast and beyond to the drop off with snow bank. There we found a couple of White-tailed Ptarmigan hiding from the gale-force cold winds. Back in Boulder it was 83 degrees. Barb exclaimed, "Blessed heat!"

Good birding,
Tom Wilberding
Boulder, CO

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[cobirds] Possible Krider's Red-tailed Hawk outside Lyons

CoBirders,
I led a Boulder Audubon Society field trip today to under-eBirded hotspots within Boulder County.  One of the stops we made was at the St Vrain River Crossing of 63rd st.  We had probably our best luck of the day at this location.  Eastern Phoebe, unIDed empidonax species (too short a look), great looks at Lesser Goldfinches, and a wondrous exceptionally white Red-tailed Hawk.

We didn't obtain any photos of the bird (too focused on my part on teaching about eBird; sorry) but I can offer a somewhat thorough description herein.  My initial thought was "Wow! That bird is so white that it might be a Ferruginous Hawk which would be weird in its own way."  After getting better looks of it flying over us, it had extremely obvious dark brown patagial bars, darker than I usually see on either Eastern or Western Red-tailed Hawks.  However, the rest of the chest was white and I mean nearly spotless (maybe two or three brown streaks on the entire breast).  The underwings were mostly white with minor gray streaks across the flight feathers.  The tips of the wings had limited black as I recall, maybe 1/2 the length I would expect of a Western Red-tailed Hawk.  The tail was white with a very slight tinge of orange on a few of the outer tail feathers.  There was a subterminal thin stripe of medium brown.  The upperwing seemed darker brown than I would expect of Western Red-tail.  I never got to see the "top" or "sides" of the head to see their color, but from below, the head had a white chin (uninterrupted) and had darkish brown solid sideburns.  In flight, it had a minor dihedral (not as great as I have seen from other Red-tails).  It didn't have the wings pushed forward at the wrist.  

Someone is going to ask me if I aged the bird.  My answer is "It had molted, so it wasn't a juvenile."  It is a stretch to  a assume that it was an adult, but I do know it had lost a tail feather or two and there may have been one or two flight feathers that were molted out already.  The back edge of the wing was consistent like I would expect from a juvenile. 

I have entertained many different options for this bird but with the intention of being open I wanted to see what others thought.  My best representative photo of what I saw is a mixture of these two photos from the net:

Let me know your thoughts and if anyone finds this bird again (we saw it three separate times flying right over us and the bridge) I hope you can get photos of any quality.  This bird was so different from the normal it would stand out to most individuals.  

Thanks for any info.

Bryan Guarente
Instructional Designer/Meteorologist
UCAR/The COMET Program
Boulder, CO

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[cobirds] Some NE Colorado Birds on June 28th

Even without a real early start, I managed a few good things on a trip out to Jumbo Reservoir then down to Phillips County today.

Upland Sandpiper on Logan CR 71 north of US 138 between Proctor and Crook--This bird was on a fence post (big surprise) but it was right at the side of the road, basically looking right in my passenger window no more than 12 feet away from me!

There were three singing Bell’s Vireos in the south most shelterbelt between Little Jumbo Reservoir and Red Lion ponds along LCR 95.

Most interestingly and noteworthy was a LEAST TERN foraging at the SW corner of Jumbo Reservoir. Yet another up close observation.  From Nebraska?

Finally, it took me most of the day, but I found a singing Dickcissel at “Lake Linfield” on Phillips CR 2 east of PCR 29.  (This is an absolutely fascinating spot.  A few years back this was a huge flooded playa covering several acres and making the road (PCR 2) impassable under several feet of water.  Since then it totally dried out—the Phillips County side is now a winter wheat field.  But now there is a little bit of water on the Yuma side of the road and much more back at PCR 29X2.  All of Phillips County has had a great deal of precipitation over the last month—6 to 10 inches throughout as shown by http://water.weather.gov/precip/ It has been the wettest part of the state, and frankly the corn looks a little hail worn.  But it is taking a while for the water table to rise and fill in some of the playas.  Meanwhile, “Lake Roller” nearby in Yuma County is filling up nicely and had American Avocets and Burrowing Owls.  Check these spots over the next couple of months and you are likely to get some nice shorebirds.) 

Bill Kaempfer

Boulder

[cobirds] Grandview Cemetery (Larimer) hummer nest update

The last two summers, my visits to Grandview Cemetery in Fort Collins (west terminus of Mountain Avenue, Larimer County) have focused on Broad-tailed Hummingbird nests.  In summer 2013 I knew of 5 nests.  The earliest fledging from any of these was June 15.  The latest fledging was August 15.  William Calder's BNA account states that at high elevation, such as Gothic where much of his research was conducted, only one nesting cycle is possible.  He also mentions that 2 cycles have been suspected of being at least possible at lower elevation, with the best evidence coming from Alfred M. Bailey in 1974 in Denver.  Dr. Bailey, renowned associate of the Denver Museum of Natural History (now Denver Museum of Nature & Science), observed a female feeding 15-day-old young while also incubating eggs in another nest 2 meters away.  Fueled by Dr. Bailey's anecdote, a nesting cycle from nest construction thru fledging that takes about only 6 weeks, and last summer's first and last fledging times at Grandview being separated by 8 weeks, I really wanted to try and document two breeding cycles this year. 

So far in 2014 at GC there have been 4 nests with active young: the 5-year "champion" Colorado blue spruce nest I've mentioned in previous posts, a nest re-used for the 2nd year in a juniper, and 2 other first-time spruce nests.  My belief is that three of the four successfully fledged two young each.  Of these, the last young fledged today around 1pm.  While the fledging event was not directly witnessed (drat), I know it happened about that time because I photographed the two nestlings on the nest as late as 12:30pm, ate lunch on a bench nearby, tried to show John Shenot the nestlings about 1:30 and they had flown from the nest.  At least one youngster was heard (the recent fledglings make a note that sounds very warbler-like) high in the nest spruce, and was apparently being tended by the female.

John and I walked around a bit in another area of the cemetery.  Just as we were parting ways, a female came to a low spruce branch near us and added a big wad of "fluff" to a half-built nest I didn't know about.  That makes 5 nests, and the timing of this construction immediately following fledging from the other 4 certainly raises the question whether this is a female initiating a second cycle.  Without banding these females, proof of two broods is impossible, but I strongly suspect it is happening.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins

[cobirds] Upland Sandpiper and Black-necked Stilt chicks, Weld Co.

Hello all,

On Friday June 27 I saw an Upland Sandpiper on the Pawnee National Grassland. It was along Rd. 69 about half-way between Roads 96 and 104, about a quarter of a mile south of stop #7 on the birding tour route. It was sitting on a wooden fence post on the west side of the road, and then flew out into the grass just west of the road, landed and disappeared.

On the way back from Pawnee, I saw a pair of adult Black-necked Stilts with 2 small chicks at Ireland Reservoir. This is 2 miles east of Hudson, on Road 49 just north of Highway 52.

Bob Andrews
Now visiting Colorado and staying in Littleton



[cobirds] Coloardo Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, June 28

Compiler:  Joe Roller
Date: June 28, 2014
email: rba AT cfobirds.org

This is the Colorado Rare Bird Alert for Saturday, June 28, sponsored
by the Denver Field Ornithologists and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory.
Alas, the DFO/RMBO answering machine is defunct after many years of service. If you have friends who rely on this telephone service, consider arranging to contact them about birding information they are keen on hearing.

Highlight species include: (* indicates new information on this species.)

Barrow's Goldeneye (Clear Creek)
Red-necked Grebe (Jackson)
LESSER NIGHTHAWK (Montrose)
EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE (*Larimer)  
Black Phoebe (Boulder)
Cassin's Kingbird (Boulder)
Red-eyed Vireo (*Boulder)
Blue-winged Warbler (*Jefferson)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (*Gunnison) Ovenbird (Jefferson)  
Summer Tanager (Eagle)
White-winged Crossbill (Boulder)

BOULDER COUNTY:
--A Black Phoebe was found by Sheeter at the 75th St Bridge over Boulder Crk on June 22.
--A Cassin's Kingbird was seen by Floyd on Gunbarrel Hill along Lookout Road on June 21.
--A lone White-winged Crossbill was reported by Dowell where the road to Long and Mitchell Lakes branches off the loop road on the west side of Brainard Lake on June 25.
--Ron Bolton reported a Red-eyed Vireo at Golden Ponds in Longmont, on the path between the ponds and the creek, on June 27.

CLEAR CREEK COUNTY:
--A Barrow's Goldeneye was reported by Breitsch at Echo Lake on June 24.

EAGLE COUNTY:
--A f Summer Tanager was reported by Dee on North Trail in Vail on June 23.  North Trail is above Buffehr Creek Road.

GUNNISON COUNTY:
--A singing Black-throated Gray Warbler was reported by Beason north of Gateview off of Bue Mesa Cutoff on June 26.  It was at 8000 ft in Douglas Fir habitat.

JACKSON COUNTY:
--On June 18, Hundertmark reported that the pair of Red-necked Grebes continues incubating egg(s) on Lake John.  On June 22, Mlodinow reported one Red-necked Grebe on Lake John.

JEFFERSON COUNTY:
--A Blue-winged Warbler was discovered by Jones at Welchester Tree Grant Park on May 22, to the delight of  many. It was most recently reported by Leatherman on June 26.
--On June 21, Suddjian reported hearing Ovenbirds at Reynold's Ranch Open Space and in Deer Creek Canyon down High Grade Road, South Deer Creek Rd. & West Deer Creek Rd.

LARIMER COUNTY:
--A singing EASTERN WOOD-PEWEE was reported by Mammoser on the Poudre River Bike Trail near Prospect Road on June 26 and reported again on June 27 just south of the Spring Creek footbridge by Komar. It may be easier to see from the Riverbend Ponds Natural Area. Later it was a bit farther north.

MONTROSE COUNTY:
--On June 19, Dexter reported at there was a good show of both male and female LESSER NIGHTHAWKS at the Nucla sewer lagoons west of town.

DFO Field Trips:
The location for the Saturday, June 28 DFO field trip has changed.  Meet the leader at Belmar Park, 800 S. Wadsworth at 0800.   From Wadsworth turn west onto Ohio and drive 2 blocks to parking lot on west side near pagoda.  This will be a 3 hour trip on level ground and easy walking.

The DFO Field Trip for Sunday, June 29 will be to Cherry Creek State Park led by Karen von Saltza (303-941-4881).  Limit 20 participants, Preregister with leader.  
Join leader at 0800 on east side of Cherry Creek SP.  Enter on east side and work our way SW around the reservoir.  Enter at EAST entrance from South Parker Road.  Go past the entrance kiosk and take the first left turn.  Continue on this road past the east boat ramp and turn left to the "East Shades, Picnic Shelters" located on the east shore of the lake.  Trip will start here.  Walking will be less than 2 miles on relatively flat trails.  Lunch is optional. State Parks pass and additional fee required.  Daily fee is $9.  Bring scopes, binocs, water, snacks, hat, and dress for predicted weather. This is a half-day trip.


Good Birding,
Joe Roller

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Friday 27 June 2014

[cobirds] Welchester Park Blue-winged Warbler Update (JeffCo)

On 6/25 in the early PM, a friend and I tried for the Blue-winged Warbler at Welchester Tree Grant Park (northeast of Yank and W 8th, Lakewood, Jefferson) .  We ran into three other birders in the process of leaving who reported NOT seeing the bird.  Between 1 and 2PM, we did NOT see or hear the bird, either.  On 6/26 starting about 7:30AM, essentially this same group of people tried again and the bird WAS, contrastingly, quite cooperative.  Per many, many reports, the center of its territory seems to be at the far eastern end of the Park, specifically the grove of small green ash trees just downhill and to the north of famous russian-olives just e (i.e., the private side) of the park/private fence.  Open weedy field to the north.  Patch of Poison Hemlocks (or whatever those Umbellaceae plants that look like Queen Ann's Lace are) west of the field along the fence line.  Small running stream/ditch right thru the middle of it all.  Perfect, according to the accounts I've read of their habitat requirements/ likes.  [As an aside, I'm all but certain those abundant, brilliant blue to blue-purple damselflies perched within and near the warbler's territory on dirt social trails/bridge/wooden debris in the stream are Vivid Dancers, Argia vivida].

My take on this bird is that, like many of these lost male warblers in the past that stick on the Front Range beyond the peak of spring migration, it is full of breeding desire but running out of steam.  It tends to sing a lot in the A.M. hours, during which it makes a couple laps of its breeding territory (which extends about 75 yards to the west of the ashes described above into the mixed deciduous "jungle").  Sings not at all, or very seldom in the PM.  It reminds me of the Tropical Parula in Fort Collins years ago, which essentially went silent about the 4th of July.  As many others have reported, it is tough to hear if your hearing is not good at the upper range.  If you do hear it, judging exactly where the sound is coming from is tougher yet.  It mostly stays fairly high and moves very little while singing (reminds me of a damn Red-eyed Vireo, the way it eludes visual detection).   All I can figure is that these fantastic photos we've been seeing of this bird involve the use of audio tomfoolery.  Not a judgment, just a statement.  Yes, the song is more like the end of typical Golden-winged song.  The bird looks like a field guide model Blue-winged.

This most recent encounter provided no real information on what this bird is eating, although once I thought I saw it make a frenetic dive for a flushed miller moth in cottonwood.  I have received reports/photos from others (Walt Knudsen and Mary O'Connor, respectively) that indicate it's diet includes aphids in cottonwood and green fruitworms in ash.

Dave Leatherman
Fort Collins 

[cobirds] Re: Eastern Wood-Pewee Photographed (Larimer County)

My bad for not including the date. Wish you could edit posts here. 6/27/14

Austin Hess
Fort Collins, Colorado 

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[cobirds] Eastern Wood-Pewee Photographed (Larimer County)

I found and photographed the Eastern Wood-Pewee from Riverbend Ponds Natural Area in Fort Collins this early afternoon. Moving around A LOT...heard calling very often. I believe it's in the same area as previously described. Here is a link to my photo. https://www.flickr.com/photos/26816187@N06/

Austin Hess
Fort Collins, Colorado 

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Re: [cobirds] Eastern Wood-peewee in Fort Collins

At Noon today (Friday the 27th), the Pewee was singing a bit farther north on the trail than previously reported.  Take the Poudre River trail to the paved bicycle Rest Area, then a short path to the river, where it was singing in an open grove of trees in a recently flooded (sand-covered) area.


On Fri, Jun 27, 2014 at 8:51 AM, Nick Komar <quetzal65@comcast.net> wrote:
This pewee is currently singing from the east side of the Poudre River just south of the Spring Creek foot bridge. Better chance of seeing it from Riverbend Ponds Natural Area.

Great find, Joe.

Nick Komar
Fort Collins CO

Sent from my iPhone


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Dick Pautsch
 

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[cobirds] Golden Ponds - Longmont - Boulder

Greg M and I were happy to spot and hear a red-eyed vireo this morning on the path between the ponds and the creek.
Greg also sighted wood ducks in the pond west of the western most path.

I was stumped by an all dark-grey breast/belly/head perching bird with conical bill, all dark eye and black legs. I did not think it was a female red-winged blackbird because there was only the slightest hint of streaking. I did not see the back/wings/tail of the bird

Nothing else unusual...no spotted sandpiper (sigh)
Several of the ponds are drained (I suppose for repair) so it is amusing watching the pelicans walk between puddles.

Ron Bolton
Berthoud

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